Almost 16 years after his debut in NCIS Season 6, Episode 22, LL Cool J’s Sam Hanna returned in Season 22, Episode 18, and it wasn’t part of a crossover. NCIS Season 6 Episodes 22 and 23 served as a two-part backdoor pilot for what would become NCIS: Los Angeles, starring LL Cool J, Chris O’Donnell, and Daniela Ruah. The first NCIS spinoff (though technically, NCIS was also a spinoff) ran for 14 seasons before being canceled. Besides its setting, what differentiated NCIS: LA from its flagship show was how it followed the NCIS Office of Special Projects (OSP) — an elite team with cutting-edge technology who were skilled at undercover assignments.
So, you’re a die-hard ‘NCIS’ fan, right? Maybe you’ve watched every episode twice, know all the team members’ quirks, and have strong opinions about new characters. Well, let’s talk about a move that could shake things up in the best way possible—Sam Hanna becoming a full-time cast member on ‘NCIS’. Sam Hanna’s recent appearance in Season 22 didn’t just thrill longtime viewers; it reignited interest in the franchise. But why should his cameo become a permanent gig? Buckle up, because we’re diving deep into that exact question.
Although that series reached its conclusion, the finale teased that Sam would be joining NCIS: Hawai’i in Season 3. He moved to Hawai’i to lead the NCIS Elite team for classified missions. But in the two-part Season 3 finale, the team was ambushed and murdered by a terrorist group, leaving Sam as one of the only survivors. There wasn’t much time to see how Sam dealt with the loss of his team as NCIS: Hawai’i was canceled after Season 3. Thankfully, Sam’s story didn’t end there. When audiences see Sam in NCIS Season 22, Episode 18, it’s revealed he took a leave of absence from the agency to process the death of his NCIS Elite Team and needed a change of pace.
He pivoted to working on Capitol Hill to get congressional support for various military actions globally. Although he’s happy in his new job, when the D.C. NCIS team needs his help on a case, he’s ready to jump back into the action. At the end of the episode, Sam is reminded of the rush of being a field agent and tells NCIS Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll) that he’s quitting his Capitol Hill job. Vance tells Sam that the door is always open for him to return (almost like a meta line from the writers to LL Cool J). But before he officially returns to NCIS, he has to take care of a few things first. As he leaves, he tells Tim McGee (Sean Murray), “Definitely see you around.” Hopefully, this is more than just a passing line, and Sam will officially join NCIS.
Sam Hanna Is a Perfect Addition to ‘NCIS’. Although Sam is quitting his Capitol Hill job, he’s still based in D.C., so it is possible that when he does rejoin NCIS, he could have a spot on the D.C. team. NCIS Season 22, Episode 18 highlighted how he gets along with every member of the team, including Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) and Kasie Hines (Diona Reasonover). Although he interacted with all of them during the superhero-level NCISverse crossover event between NCIS, NCIS: LA, and NCIS: Hawai’i back in 2023, LL Cool J’s dynamic with everyone feels like no time has passed at all. Sam and Tim McGee (Sean Murray) share the same authority as senior field agents (they also worked closely together during the NCIS: LA backdoor pilot). Sam and Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) both experienced the trauma of losing their team in a brutal attack. Sam and Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) are both tough and skilled fighters with big hearts. Sam and Alden Parker (Gary Cole) even have the same love for pastries.
Sam and Kasie are a comedic pairing as Kasie has a more positive outlook but feels like she has to tone herself down whenever Sam is around. With this foundation already set, there is still more room to grow his relationships with the D.C. team in a way that still evolves Sam as a character. Sam have been having weekly karaoke sessions that also include Jimmy’s daughter, Victoria Palmer (Elle Graper). It also includes a wink-and-nod to LL Cool J’s rapping career, as Jimmy is actually the one who does old-school raps while Sam sings. During the NCISverse crossover, Jimmy, Sam, and Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) were kidnapped by a rogue group. It’s clear this traumatic experience bonded them as Sam would later go on to work with Jane on the Hawai’i team, and Sam and Jimmy formed a friendship outside of work. But the deeper bond between Sam and Jimmy is how they’re single fathers raising their kids. If Sam were to officially join the D.C. team, it’d be fun to see more of this friendship, Sam’s dynamic with Victoria, and if their kids are friends.
